The Down & Dirty on Dairy Free Living

153 Comments

Hi Sweet Friends,

Well, it’s late January, so I’m guessing that more than a few of you have slipped on your New Year’s resolutions (me too!). First of all—no biggie. If the goals you made while ringing in 2014 are still important to you, keep moving toward them one step at a time. Turtle power! But if you haven’t pinpointed what you want to do to improve your health, you’re not alone. Many of my readers are overwhelmed. I get this question almost daily, “There are so many healthy habits to choose from—which one should I tackle first?” Translation: What will make the biggest difference in my health TODAY. Of course, green juices and smoothies are my numero uno recommendation, but second is always…dumping dairy. That’s right, go dairy-free.

You’re gonna learn a lot about dairy in a minute, but here are a few of the main reasons I removed it from my diet. Dairy is high in saturated fat (which can lead to stroke and heart attacks), it’s highly inflammatory (the root cause of many chronic diseases), and the growth hormones in dairy (ex. IGF1) can stimulate malignant cell growth and proliferation (because I have cancer, that’s a big NO thanks!). I know from personal experience, and from thousands of emails, Facebook comments, and tweets, that saying adieu to dairy can totally transform your health. So even if you’re not keen on ditching your milkshakes and brie today, I invite you to learn a little more about this bovine beverage. Even lessening the amount of dairy you consume can make a difference in how you feel.

How dairy impacts your health

A cow drinks cow’s milk when it’s a baby. A bunny drinks bunny’s milk when it’s a baby. Beyond a certain age, even they know that it’s freaky to suckle. And do you ever see them switch and swap? The only time milk is essential for good health is when we are babies, being breastfed by human mothers. Human breast milk is nature’s perfect formula for human babies. It’s rich in good fats like DHA for brain development, but it’s relatively low in protein. Cow’s milk contains more than three times as much protein as breast milk. That’s because baby cows need a lot more protein. They grow to between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds. Is that your desired weight? If so, hello reality TV!

While the protein in human milk is designed for human bodies, much of the protein in cow’s milk is difficult for humans to digest. In addition, the over-consumption of this protein can lead to serious health conditions. Dr. T. Colin Campbell, professor emeritus of nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University, found that the protein that consistently creates and promotes cancer is casein, which makes up about 87 percent of the protein in cow’s milk. According to Dr. Campbell, a diet that contains more than 10 percent protein (that’s about 50 grams of protein if you’re consuming 2,000 calories per day) can lead to the little “c.” Guess what? Americans eat way more than that (an average of 17 percent total protein, of which 12 to 13 percent is animal-based!).

Forget spooky, life-threatening diseases, let’s talk about simpler pickles. Ever pass a kidney stone? If you have, then you know that it’s incredibly painful—sorta feels like shooting an elephant through your pee hole! How about Crohn’s disease, a veritable inflammation blow-out sale? Both of these not-so-happy afflictions have been linked to dairy consumption. Allergies, eczema, asthma, arthritis, inflammation, and zits can all be linked to dairy. What about skim milk or nonfat milk? They’re just as bad. For me, cheese was the hardest thing to give up, but once I did, my weird rashes and forehead bumps disappeared. I also started to breathe easier—a pretty important change for a gal with cancer in her lungs. Perhaps this is too much information, but my poop changed, too. It came out regularly!

How about tummy pain, gas and bloating? Well, there may be a good reason for your belly’s aching. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, around 75 percent of the world’s adults can’t digest milk (they’re lactose-intolerant). Among some populations, such as Native Americans and Asians, the figure is over 90 percent. Beyond childhood, most people stop producing the enzyme lactase, which is needed to digest lactose (the sugar in milk). Yeah, your body thinks you should wean, too. I’ve never met someone who didn’t feel better once they removed dairy from their diet. Sorry folks, but all good things come to an end.

Beyond Pasteurized Cow’s Milk

After reading your comments on this blog, I realized that a lot of my readers are curious (and passionate) about raw cow’s milk, goat’s milk and sheep’s milk. I checked in with my resident RD, Jennifer Reilly, to get the scoop on the other animal-based milk options on the block. Here’s what she had to say:

Raw Cow’s Milk: Many foodies and natural health advocates have been singing the praises of raw cow’s milk compared to pasteurized cow’s milk for some time. They claim that raw milk has more digestive enzymes (including lactase which breaks down the milk sugar lactose), more probiotics, more immune-boosters, and a richer supply of vitamins and minerals, which are otherwise killed during the heating process of pasteurization. Very little scientific research has been done to confirm or dispute these claims, although there are plenty of raw milk advocates who are positive that their allergies diminished, asthma improved, and lactose intolerance disappeared once they switched to raw cow’s milk.

Raw cow’s milk may be a step up from pasteurized cow’s milk as the raw version is often from cows only fed organic grass and not treated with antibiotics or artificial hormones. But, keep in mind that without pasteurization, raw cow’s milk is still rich in inflammatory and allergy-potential casein (milk protein), contains potentially cancer-causing Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) (and its consumption also causes an additional production of IGF-1 in the human body), natural hormones, and without pasteurization, raw cow’s milk contains human pathogens which are of particular concern to food scientists, including Salmonella, E. Coli, and Listeria (see abstract here). These pathogens are especially risky for folks with compromised immune systems.

Goat & Sheep Milk: People are also turning toward milk from goats and sheep as alternatives to cow’s milk, and here’s why. Both goat and sheep milks have less lactose, so digestion is easier for humans compared to cow’s milk. Goat milk is closest in structure to human milk and is slightly alkaline, whereas cow’s milk is slightly acidic. Both sheep and goat milk contain a greater percentage of medium-chain fatty acids compared to cow’s milk which makes them naturally homogenized and easier to digest aside from the lower lactose content. To me, goat and sheep milk seem like a better option. But remember, you’re still getting casein and growth factors which may have a negative effect on human health. So if you’re consuming any kind of dairy, choose the best sources and do so in moderation.

Thanks, Jen! Now, onto one of the biggest questions about living dairy-free…

But, where will I get calcium?

This is probably the most frequently asked question when talking about going dairy-free. Good news! Nature’s best calcium sources are dark leafy greens such as kale, collards, mustard greens, and turnip greens. The calcium in these foods is absorbed at double the rate of dairy calcium. About 30 percent of dairy calcium is absorbed whereas about 60 percent of calcium from dark leafy greens is absorbed. Other rich plant sources of calcium include beans, almonds, figs, and fortified nondairy milks such as unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, hemp milk, and rice milk.

When it comes to bone health, calcium isn’t the only factor. Overall diet and activity levels determine bone health and even calcium needs. Countries with the highest calcium intake have the most osteoporosis, so there’s obviously more to the bone-health story than calcium alone.

Here’s another helpful factoid, vitamin D—which is necessary for calcium absorption and is best obtained from 20 minutes of sunshine 3 times a week during summer months and fortified, nondairy foods or supplements during winter months—is now being considered the most important nutrient in bone health. Bottom line: A diet rich in plant foods easily meets calcium needs. Check out this handy infographic for even more info on your calcium needs and plant-based sources.

Dairy Free Alternatives

Going dairy-free doesn’t mean deprivation, it just means trying new things! Nowadays there are so many options that are just as good as the “real” deal. To learn about my favorite store-bought dairy alternatives, take a peek at my pantry and fridge. But when you get down to it, the real magic happens in the kitchen. Did you know that you can make your own moo-less cheeses, creams, milks and spreads at home? Plant-based, whole food recipes are easy and way healthier than the store bought stuff. And since I want you to taste this dairy-free goodness pronto, I’ve included some of my go-to Crazy Sexy Kitchenrecipes for your enjoyment!

Get the infographic PDF + more recipes straight to your inbox:

Dairy Free Diet Recipes

Oooh, one last tip… Remember that most store bought alternatives are processed, so eat them in moderation or just use them as transition foods till your palate shifts. Also, when choosing these products, look for carrageenan-free, check out this comprehensive list.)

I hope this helps and as always, you don’t have to change everything at once. Slow and steady wins the race. But if you’re dealing with any inflammatory issues, this one recommendation may be the best place to start!

Now it’s your turn, have you seen a change in your overall health after removing dairy from your diet? What are your favorite dairy alternatives?

153 Responses…

My life changed when I gave up dairy! Symptoms that went away: GI problems related to digestion etc that I was seeing a GI specialist for, sinus problems, sinus headaches, sinus inflammation … diagnosed allergic to dairy! While it was hard to give it up cold turkey, never have I considered going back. Turtle power!

I saw huge changes after giving up dairy. Goodbye PMS, cramps and anxiety!! I went vegan for ethical reasons and to become overall more healthy, but never anticipated the far reaching affects of giving up animal products (of which I consumed mostly dairy). Formerly a cheese addict – I am now the first to encourage people to try going dairy free. One success – my Dad. Suffering from arthritis and psoriasis. He has given up animal products and has seem dramatic improvements in both.

Thank you for debunkin’ this myth. I would LOVE to see a huge advertising campaign talk about the truth behind dairy. It would definitely push for change in the dairy industry and affect (positively) the lives of so many animals.

And how amazing that a delicious green smoothie has waaaaaaay more calcium than a glass of milk?!!!

I stopped dairy on Jan 1 and I don’t miss it one bit. I got a full blown cold 5 days after giving it up and I believe it was my body getting rid of the gunk. Now I feel fabulous!!!! Muchas thanks Kris Carr.
P.S. I also stopped all wheat on Jan 1….unbelievable the change that too makes!!!! xox

Could you elaborate, please? Do you mean because you can’t trust the government or companies or because there is inherently hormones in milk even if the cow was not fed hormones? Or some other reason…? I am going hormone-free on dairy/eggs (I’m already vegetarian) because I noticed I don’t get PMS migraines when I don’t eat hormones through animals. Thanks for explaining 🙂

We are the only ones on this planet that keep drinking milk after weaning, and from an animal! Recently I heard someone say that “eggs are chicken periods.” ….Never again. Vegetarian 8 years, Vegan 2 weeks and counting.

Hi Kris – I’m a huge fan and you’re able to reach a lot of people with your positive messages, but it’s 2014 and much of what is stated above is incorrect. I believe it could cause more harm then good for people to continue to believe the myths. For instance the science is indisputable, saturated fats do not cause heart disease. You can do your own research and you’ll find the facts. Suffice it to say this has led many down a path of less health, not more health. In fact you can Google “Ketogenic Diets and Cancer” and you’ll find that the science is telling us by cutting off the Glucose ( from carbohydrate consumption) we can kill tumors in some cancers. Anyhow Google Ancel Keys to see the history about the saturated fat myth.

Also I was a huge fan of Colin T. Campbell and The China Study, and like you cited the book to others, however when I found out he cherry picked the data I was a pretty shocked, but this is the challenge when people put ideology over science. If you’re interested in the facts about his research you can Google “Denise Minger and China Study” and come up with your own opinion.

Lastly all dairy is not created equal. My two sons and I went and visited a dairy and it was horrifying so I would agree that all conventional milk is suspect, and I would add that even organic milk is suspect since the FDA allows milk to be labeled organic if the dairy cow was fed organic feed for just four months. I pay $16 a gallon for raw milk from a dairy in California, and I also buy their raw Kefir, butter and some of their cheese. It’s an investment but again the scientific data suggests that raw dairy is very healthy for the human body, but again you can do your own research.

Thanks so much for posting this Noel. This is exactly what I was thinking too! I love Kris Carr’s work and as a Certified Nutrition Consultant, Certified Herbalist who uses food as medicine I love that Kris promotes a lot of great advice on nutrition and healthy living. Like her I went to Hippocrates Health Institute years ago and studied with Dr. Robert Young. Like her I love green juices and green smoothies (without all the high glycemic fruit that is) and quality raw foods. But, one place I differ is that I also love the health benefits I get from raw, 100% grass-fed, organic milk kefir and raw spring butter. After following a raw vegan (Hippocrates style) diet for a year and a half, I added in the kefir and raw butter and they worked miracles in my health! I later added other traditional diet principles to my diet too that further improved my health. I do not tolerate any other variety of dairy (it makes my health go down hill), but this specia andl hard to find kind of dairy is truly a miracle worker. I agree about quality saturated fat being a great ally for achieving health and I recommend Denise Minger’s review of Colin Campbell’s research as well. Here is the link http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/07/07/the-china-study-fact-or-fallac/ Also, quality fermented raw dairy products and spring butter benefits have a lot to do with the fact that the protein in them is not denatured by heat like the casein used in Colin T. Campbell’s study, and they are rich in fat soluble vitamins that are hard to come by in the western diet (K2, D3, and Vitamin A-retinol). Making sure these fat soluble vitamins are in your diet in one form or another (from food sources and not supplements in my opinion) is very necessary and is very important for assuring that children develop well-formed faces (not narrow) without crooked teeth or the need for glasses and well-formed skeletal structures (i.e. good foot arches, good sized hips in women, a v-shaped torso in men, etc, etc.).Check out Weston Price’s masterpiece Nutrition and Physical Degeneration for more info on this. My point is that quality dairy’s magic is not just in its calcium and protein content, which is what people often point out you can get elsewhere. I will say that I do agree that a high protein diet is not a good idea, in my opinion, too (Weston Price advocated this and I agree with his reasoning on this, so you I do not believe that you need to eat protein foods in large quantities and you definitely need to focus on quality! To those who are interested, please check Dr. Ron Shcmid’s book the Untold Story of Milk for little known info on this amazing food.

Thanks for that reply Noel, that’s exactly what I was thinking while reading the post. I’d like to add that there are people getting healed from cancer using RAW-PASTURED-ORGANIC MILK. It all is true about the milk, but it is the industrialized, grain-fed, non-organic milk. The problem with the fats in the milk is generated when it is homogenized, it is then when the fats can’t be “processed” by the enzyme Lipase. Here is the articule about the milk as a cure for cancer, and some other illness. http://www.realmilk.com/health/milk-cure/

Conclusion, find a “real milk farmer”…and Kris, please do a little research about the different types of milk. Milk has been a part of the human nutrition for thousands of years and having no trouble, why are we “demonizing” milk for so many problems when it has happened in the last what, 50 years as much?.

Daniel,
Think back to our population 50+ years ago. The demand for milk is now higher due to a higher population. It has never been a secret that the cows are given growth hormones to increase their milk supply. The problem is that the growth hormorne is then ingested by humans and then causes other problems that Kris had pointed out in her article. One being growth in her malignant tumors. Another being her breakouts on her face. The hormone is ingested in excess and now the body has to filter it ex) through the digestive, skin and others systems. I did not find her to be “demonizing milk” but rather suggesting alternatives for cleaner eating based on her scientific and personal findings.

Daniel, a lot of things have been eaten by us for eons and were harmful then and are harmful now. Once humans went from hunter-gatherer to farming, the problems began. Food reactions have been noted for a long time; hundreds of years ago, dairy was pegged as causing melancholy (which is probably what they called depression in those days).

Dairy is being attacked for good reason — it is very harmful to a lot of people. It KILLS me (no exaggeration — bleeding from my butt qualifies), and I’m convinced it was the cause of my mother’s digestive problems as well. It was dairy that caused my seasonal and animal allergies!

It took me 30 years to believe how harmful it was to me, but the signs are extremely obvious to me now because I totally hypersensitized myself to dairy due to major overconsumption (in one workplace I was called “the girl with the stinky cheeses). Even butter gives me a reaction, but not ghee! So I’m a happy camper.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this post!!! I used to drink 1-2 GALLONS of milk a day when I was a kid. Needless to say, I’ve never broken a bone. Fast forward, I’m almost 30, and I can’t drink dairy milk or eat ice cream without feeling uber-gassy 🙁 Lactose intolerance is normal – we only need milk as babies! I’ve been drinking & using almond milk on my cereal for almost 2 years and my health has been transformed (along with more green juice).

Yes! Thanks Kris. We definitely don’t need dairy, I’ve seen firsthand how much better I am without it, and I’ve seen SO many clients feel SO much better once off of it. It can actually throw our hormones off balance due to the naturally occurring hormones (not to mention any added) and that alone can cause so many problems it’s scary. And Dr Campbells research is compelling. Because the research made casein look so terrible (but not whey), I cut out all dairy expect for natural new zealand hormone free whey isolate – but still, acne and mild tummy pains the morning after having it persisted. Finally, kicked it out and I’m clear and tummy-ache free!!! Oh… And yay for green smoothies, kale, chia seeds and hummus!!! xx

Hi Emily — Soy is probably not listed here as a milk “substitute” for those newly dairy-free because one can easily go overboard on soy consumption. Eating a lot of soy can change your hormonal profile. You wouldn’t want to drastically change your diet for health reasons, only to create a new problem by throwing your hormones out of whack. I prefer almond milk, but at Starbucks I do enjoy a good decaf soy latte as a treat. I like to eat tofu here and there too. The key is moderation. Don’t consume large amounts of soy, and definitely don’t have it every day, or more than once a week. One more odd fact about soy — the molecules are large, so they can interfere with the absorbtion of other nutrients — slowing down the process. My Integrative Medicine MD does not allow soy of any kind during a supervised cleanse, as it would interfere with the goal of cleansing the gut.

Dear Chris,
Thank you so much for your informative website and pleasant interviews during the Start the new you seminar.
I discovered yoga and healthy food in New Zealand. Back in grey Belgium, it is simple impossible to find kale, collards, mustard greens, or turnip greens.
They simply do not exist, staff of oragnic stores doens’t even recognize the pictures. And I live in an apartment in Brussels, so cannot grow them either.
Do you think it is possible to substitute them by spinach, beans, cabbage plus food supplements? If so, which supplements would you recommend?

Hi,
I am from Belgium but I have lived in california so I understand your problem. Good news though…you can find kale now at Delhaize in Antwerp and a variaty of the other veggies at organic market stands. I know a couple in and around Antwerp, don’t know about Brussels but I’m sure they will catch on. Good luck!

Yum! I’ve been dairy-almost-free for over a year now — I say almost because every once in a while some good goat cheese or other real deal fresh dairy shows up and a little seems to agree with my system. This information and these recipes are much appreciated!! xoxo

Thank-you for this, Kris! For those of us with MS, dairy is downright dangerous. Professor George Jelinek (he’s the incredible author of Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis) has been instrumental in getting this frightening fact out to the masses. In his words, “The map of high cow’s milk consumption in the world is essentially a map of MS in the world.” Through a process called molecular mimicry, cow’s milk protein has been shown to cross-react with myelin protein, actually triggering MS. When this former dairy-loving vegetarian read that – it was bye-bye to all dairy. No moo-moo for me since a month after my initial MS attack in Aug. of 2011. I will never touch it again in any form!

Hi Kris: I do believe that everyone has to make the decisions that are best for them. There is definitely truth in your post and some things to think about, but there are two sides to every coin. Human beings have been drinking cows milk for a very long time, approx. 7,000 years. For most of those years human beings have not had a problem with the enzymes or processing milk comfortably through our digestive systems.

It has truly only been in the last 30 or so years when food production has become more science project than nutrition that all of the problems have arisen. It is a fact that it is the pasteurization and homogenization processes that milk now goes through coupled with the chemicals and antibiotics that are added AND the hideous way that cows are factory farmed that have caused the majority of the problems in your post. Case in point, raw milk from grass-fed cows that are treated humanely is full of nutrients and vitamins that are very good for us and don’t cause the problems that the grocery store science project milk does.

Perhaps drinking raw milk from a trusted source rather than leaving dairy behind might be an option for some of your readers.

Hi Colleen: See if you can view the film “Forks Over Knives” featuring Dr T. Colin Campbell. It will flesh out (no pun intended) the argument for dumping dairy. And he comes from a family-run dairy farm.
After using almond, hemp, and coconut milk for 3 years I am very pleased with the taste. And I just saw flax milk in the store last week!

Actually, MANY human beings have had a problem digesting milk. Lactose intolerance is quite prevalent among Asians, Native Americans, African and African Americans, Hispanics and other ethnicities. White Europeans have the least prevalence of lactose intolerance. Regardless, being able to digest something doesn’t mean we should be consuming it.

Cows used for dairy can never really be treated humanely: they are essential forced to be pregnant repeatedly and then separated from their babies who are killed for their veal. Forcing sentient beings to live in such a manner can never be humane.

There are natural hormones incompatible with human beings present in all cow’s milk, whether raw or not.

Before the era of pasteurization, raw milk was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of deaths due to TB-infected milk. More recently, outbreaks of E.coli sent a number of children in Connecticut to the hospital, including in one household where a kid who consumed raw milk infected a sibling who didn’t, who then infected a third. So you see, even if we “make decisions that are best for ourselves” everything we do affects someone else: whether it’s a kid getting sick from another kid who drank raw milk, a mother crying for her baby, or an innocent young calf being sent to slaughter.

Love this Miss Kris Carr- THis is why I run my 21 Day Online Gluten, Dairy, Sugar Free Challenge- How to get off these inflammatory foods the healthy way!!! will be sharing your great info to all my followers.

Hello! I noticed in several of your recipes you tend to use hemp seeds. I am wondering what you think of flax seeds and flax seed oil. When my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer I found in my research that there appeared to be evidence that flax seed was helpful in reducing lung tumors. I am wondering about flax versus hemp.

Every time I post a comment it gets moderated. I love this one-sided conversation. There are many sides to nutrition and dairy, as well as Colin T. Campbell’s credibility as a scientist and the fact not one study has ever and implicated saturated fat in the causation of heart disease. Kris you’re awesome but you need to brush up on your science. Ideology may sell books but the truth is what heals. Just Google “Ketogenic Diets and Cancer”. You’ll find why Glucose (through the consumption of carbohydrates) can fuel cancer growth and eliminating it can cause tumors to shrink.

If you’re interested in the facts about Colin T. Campbell Google “The China Study and Denise Minger”, if you’re interested in learning about the myth of saturated fat Google “Ancel Keys”. And as someone who’s visited a dairy I would agree conventional dairy has negative health implications, and purchasing organic milk is suspect because the FDA only requires dairy cows to be fed organic feed for four months in order to be labeled organic. However I pay $16 a gallon for raw milk, and consume raw kefir, butter and cheese, which all have shown to be very healthy for the human body. As always do you’re own research to find out how you look, feel and perform when consuming raw dairy.

Thanks for the informative Blog Kris!! I have been weening off dairy and cheese for a year now. The thing that gets me a little guilty is that my mother in law and mom don’t quite understand the reason why I’m changing my diet. My mother in law cooks with cheese and milk and yogurt all the time. Did you ever get any resistance from friends or family for giving up dairy? Thanks Kris TURTLE POWER =)

Is all Dairy created equal? What about raw dairy? Or organic (rbGH/antibiotic free) and grass-fed? I’ve read numerous times that milk from responsible dairy farms is high in rich omegas. I know you need to consider the masses in these blogs, but given your readership, it might make sense to consider that your audience is already niche by normal standards and degrees of dairy health are probably in order.

Hi Kris , I follow your blog and your work for long time. Admire your strength and everything you have done already and will do in a future . Use your blog for valuable information ( I am graduate from IIN ) . In this article , though , I found confusing piece of information about dairy fat and proteins . What exactly trigger inflammation ? Thank you for clearing it

Thank you dear lady (and fellow cancer survivor) for this article and link to that comprehensive list of carrageenan-free foods! I learned about the dangers of this so-called natural food additive from Dr. Weil’s website, and since then have given up my almond milk. I tried making my own, but after straining it several times and still having almond grounds in it (which I darn near choked on), I wanted my store-bought almond milk back! Now, with the handy guide of safe products from Cornucopia’s website, I’m off to the grocery store. Yay!

What’s your take on Vitamin A Palmitate? I heard that stuff is bad, too, and it’s in everything!

I have stopped eating dairy and have noticed my nasal congestion is gone! I thought it was allergies living in FL, but since I cut it out I’m not congested and blowing my nose constantly! Amazing! I love cheese, and still cheat every once in awhile, but then pay for it the next day, so I’m learning…
Thanks for the great article!

I totally agree. Everytime I am not eating dairy for a longer period of time I feel amazing. It even feels as if I “shrink” in size ( – even without dieting). 😉

Instead of dairy I enjoy almond milk in my tea or cereals. Finally, I found a brand that I love and that does not taste weird.
I dont like soy milk – I find it has a very unpleasant taste. At least the ones I tried.

Woohoo thanks for posting this! Just went vegan a week ago. I’ve been vegetarian for 7 years and have wanted to go vegan for the past few… and Crazy Sexy Diet gave me the final push I needed. You are amazing. And I feel great 🙂

Og, Kris, this was sooo timely. Just this morning, ny inner voice was saying, “gotta give up milk”. I do have aches abd pains and has been feeling kinda miserable about it. I will do it now. Thank you!

Hey Kris, thanks for this! I love the green smoothie recipe! Up until now, I’ve cut out all dairy except my stinkin’ favorite Greek yogurt! Yet, after reading this, I”m inspired to finally make a change. It’s the last animal product in my diet and so why not just get rid of it altogether? Thanks for the inspiration and the recipe!!:) I can’t wait to see your new book when it comes out:)
Peace, love and plants<3

Awesome Kris; thanks for this great article. I’m allergic to dairy and love using almond milk! I also found a great vegan cheese that I enjoy using called Go Veggie! Vegan Cheese that’s amazing for anyone looking for that ‘melt’ and flavor just like real cheese!
Love the inclusion of the greens here- great way to get calcium. Thanks again!! Happy New Year!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
No matter how much I share about all the sad and bad things that happen to our bodies when we subject them to dairy, no one really seems to listen to me or believe me. It’s as if I am on mute. There must be something seriously addictive about dairy that just repels the idea of cutting it out of ones diets.

Anyway, I am sharing this all over the place!
Peace and free the cows!!!
XOXO

HI, i WANTED TO INFORM U O F 2 THINGS, tHERE IS A NEW VEgetarian cook book out that is written by a french women entitled, ” the french market cook book , her name is Clotilde Dusoulier. These are vegetarian recipes from her parisian kitchen. If u r not familar w/ this book , I believe u might find some of the recipes rather interesting. I especially liked the spinach pancakes. Anyway u can check it out. The other is a web site & product called atheltic greens, If u r not familar w/ this product , u can check it out , a rather interesting web site, explains all. Thanks, Milt

Kris, thank you for this great blog! Such an important message. I’ve been dairy-free for 18 months. It started as a month-long experiment, and I felt so much better in days, that I have never looked back. Now I aint an udder sucker I have way smoother digestion, clearer skin, healthier lungs, and less excess tummy flabber. I can also look cows in the eye without shame.

Thanks for this article! I’ve really been wanting to give up dairy (I know it’s why I’m short of breath and sneezing all the time!) Great timing, I have officially decided to give it up today!! Besides, I already love almond milk and I do feel bad for those momma cows. One thing I’d like to point out though, a co-worker of mine is convinced her sudden high intake of almond milk created a nut allergy in her. Maybe she’s wrong, but it’s something to consider.

Why don’t you list coconut milk a an alternative? I thought the saturated fat in coconuts was beneficial (as opposed to animal saturated fat.) Now that I think of it I don’t think I ever see you love on a coconut. Any reason why?

I drink organic skim milk. If the store is out of that, I will drink organic 1% or 2%. I have always CRAVED milk. I don’t know why. Basically, I drink organic milk and Mountain Valley Spring water that comes in glass bottles and not much else. I never have trouble with bowel movements. I have never cared for cheese. I do eat organic yogurt. Dairy has never given me gas or bloating or any problems. After menopause, I became sensitive to flax oil and flax seeds – can’t eat them. Walnuts make me very ill. I don’t know what I would do without organic milk. I love it!

Thanks for this. We have heard that cow dairy products are hard to digest, you reiterated that. We did learn that Goat is 1000x easier on the system, but I don’t have any science to link to – can you comment? We eat small amount of raw goat cheese, a few tablespoons of goat yogurt that’s been in a yogurt press to make it like ‘cheese’. And @FoodBabe suggests that if we eat butter from Organic Valley, grass-fed cows, we are ok. So, love to hear your take.

Hi Kris
I agree with you in the article but wondered if cultured milk eg kefir, homemade yoghurt, would have the same effect as ordinary milk. If possible I would always use raw milk in those items.
BTW I have just received your Crazy Sexy Diet book and am really enjoying it.

Thank you for this eye-opener. I wonder if yogurt, specifically the plain one with probiotics is also bad? I have stopped taking milk, bit ‘am confused about the effects of non sweet home made yogurt. Could you please comment on this?

I gave up Dairy right after the New Year. Best thing I ever did. I had seriously cut back in the last 2 years, but I still had 2 spots that were inflammed on my thumb joints that wouldn’t go away unless I took ibuprofen. The reduction in my pain level has been amazing, one hand nothing, and the other hand is barely perceptible. The joints were inflamed, I could feel the heat. I’ve found substitutes for dairy milk with almond milk and hemp milk. Although, I have to say it didn’t do anything for my psoriasis. If anyone has any ideas for treating that with something other than steroids, I would love to hear about it. Some of the medications advertised on TV for psoriasis have some very serious side effects….one of them actually says “death may occur.” Sign me up? Yeah, hello.

Loved this article!! It will be wonderful to pass along to friends and family that question my reasonings to remove my 10 year old son and I from all dairy. He was ‘diagnosed’ with ADD and ADHD through a few tests but the next test, an igG4 blood and urine test determined he was highly allergic to dairy and a few of it’s by-products. He had eczema under his eyes of all places that wouldn’t go away no matter what cream or remedy I tried. Within 8 weeks of removing dairy from his diet, I had a DIFFERENT child. A compassionate, eczema free, gut symptom free, more lively and more on task child. Two years later and all ADD, ADHD symptoms have gone, I credit our raw, organic, gluten free diet to this! Praying for you and your lungs to be healed!!!